Mentors/Artists Liam De Frinse and Bríd Higgins Ní ChinnŽide Photo by Bryan Brophy, Image Photography 

“Creative Company” is a brand new campaign and upcoming television series that aims to find Ireland’s most creative workplace. Placing an artist within a company, workers within ten different Irish companies will be set the goal of making a fantastic piece of art together.

Whether a painting or a sculpture, the workers from all levels in the organisation will be encouraged to operate as a team and make the piece of art on their own premises from concept to completion. Exploring diverse workplaces and diverse workplace cultures, the project aims to reveal how creativity is found in contemporary Irish businesses. Judged by art critics, one company must come out on top.

The winning company will not only claim the title of Ireland’s most creative, but their artwork will also be installed in Dublin’s CHQ at the heart of Dublin’s business district for a period of three months.

The businesses will be mentored by two professional artists throughout the entire process and working with the companies involved will be Dublin based painter Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide and Liam de Frinse, a Turner Prize nominated multidisciplinary artist from Belfast.

A fun and entertaining teamwork exercise exploring the connection between arts and businesses, you can get involved by registering at www.creativecompany.ie

TG4’s Commissioning Editor Laura Ní Cheallaigh says, “TG4 are thrilled to be involved in this exciting and creative project which we hope we really capture the imagination of both Irish businesses and the Irish public. We look forward to revealing the innovative and creative pieces they produce as well as following the businesses and their teams on what’s sure to be an entertaining and rewarding journey.”

Business to Arts’ Andrew Hetherington says. “We are very happy to be supporting this project with EZ Films and TG4. Increasingly companies are turning to creativity to engage and retain staff. Creativity and the arts regularly helps to enhance teamwork, problem solve and increase innovation within a company. We look forward to seeing each company’s finished artwork and look forward to finding Ireland’s most creative company.”

Launching the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz; Andrew Hetherington , Chief Executive, Business to Arts & Victoria Mc Cormack, Macnas at Dublin Castle. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Today, Business to Arts and Allianz launched the call for nominations for the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, which champions the unique opportunities that business engagement with the arts provides. At the awards launch, Business to Arts and Allianz encouraged businesses from across Ireland to explore and strengthen their relationships with the cultural community and create meaningful partnerships. Previous award winners include Accenture, Bord Gáis Energy, Dublin Port Company, ESB and Bank of Ireland.

This year marks the 28^th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards and Allianz’s 19^th anniversary of involvement and sponsorship of the awards. Allianz is encouraging the business community to become involved again this year and to support and celebrate creative talent across Ireland. There are 11 categories in total focusing on sponsorship, commissioning, CSR initiatives and community engagement as well as mentoring, training and staff programs. The online entry form can be accessed through www.businesstoarts.ie/awards.

This year also sees the 12^th year of the €10,000 Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary, which is open to emerging artist(s) in any art form. Previous winners include Aisling O’Mara (playwright), Clare Monnelly (theatre), pianist Máire Carroll (music), ballet dancer Gearóid Solan (dance) & sculptor Alva Gallagher (visual art).

Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said:

“The 28^th Allianz Business to Arts Awards represents the crucial importance of the co-creative relationship between businesses and the arts community across Ireland.  Over the last 28 years, we have seen inspiring examples of business and artistic engagement creating truly unique moments of courageous expression for communities and artists with a new voice or message.

Allianz continues to be a strong advocate of creative partnerships between business and the arts, and the courage and dedication it takes to make these initiatives flourish. We look forward to this year’s award nominations and encourage businesses and arts groups throughout the country to get involved.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said:

“In 2019, we look forward to recognising the exceptional creative partnerships that exist throughout Ireland between the business and arts communities. Alongside our partner Allianz, our Awards and mission is to encourage business leaders to consider the arts as a powerful and creative way to enhance community relations and to communicate social issues. We look to recognise these best-in-class relationships on September 3^rd at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre”.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday, May 1st 2019 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Today, RCSI, Accenture and Business to Arts unveiled a series of new portraits of historical female leaders in healthcare at RCSI. Women on Walls at RCSI in partnership with Accenture recognises the pioneering achievements of a group of eight extraordinary women and aims to enhance the visibility of historical female leaders in healthcare to inspire future generations.

The portraits were officially unveiled today by Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD and RCSI President Mr Kenneth Mealy. They will now hang in the Board Room of RCSI’s historic building on St. Stephen’s Green and can be seen at scheduled times throughout 2019.

In March 2018, artists were invited to submit a proposal to Business to Arts, project managers of the initiative. A selection committee identified six artists who were commissioned to paints the portraits. The group of artists have worked with RCSI archivists to research their subjects and complete the portraits.

The following artists have completed their commissions, creating a series of eight individual portraits:

Speaking ahead of the announcement, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO said, “We are immensely proud to unveil these portraits of ground-breaking RCSI women today. These pioneers made significant contributions to education and healthcare here at RCSI, in Ireland and much further afield. We hope that by recognising them through this landmark initiative; we might inspire future generations of women and girls to pursue a career in healthcare and science.”   

 “Each of these women had a profound impact and we want history to remember their legacy. It is our duty to help preserve their story and celebrate their achievements. It is right and proper that today they take their place not just on these storied walls of RCSI but also in the history of healthcare.”

Dr Michelle D. Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture in Ireland added, “The contribution of women in society is too often invisible. Who we see on the walls, tells us about what we as a society value, about who is welcome, about who fits in. We set out on the journey of Women on Walls with the ambition of making women leaders visible to inspire future generations. It is truly moving to see these magnificent eight portraits being unveiled by RCSI today, reminding us of the impact these women had in healthcare.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts said, “The artists commissioned, have created a powerful series of work highlighting the importance of gender equality. The Women on Walls campaign is a strong example of how art helps to communicate an important message. These eight extraordinary women whose portraits will hang on the walls of RCSI for years to come, represent the exceptional achievements of RCSI graduates and Fellows past, present and future. We salute the achievements of the six artists”.

A new Women on Walls podcast series was announced during the unveiling. The eight-part series celebrates the lives of these eight Irish women who forged careers in healthcare during a time in Ireland when women were expected to stay at home. The first episode features the impact that Dr Barbara Maive Stokes, a paediatrician and pioneering disability campaigner, had on Ireland as a tireless advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Women on Walls is now available for download from Apple, Google and Spotify podcasts. A new episode will publish fortnightly.

RCSI is committed to promoting gender equality among staff and students for the advancement of the College’s mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health. RCSI has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.

Women on Walls is a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. Accenture’s Women on Walls began in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy which recognised the achievements of leading female academics and to inspire future generations.

You can read more about Women on Walls at RCSI in partnership with Accenture and find out more about scheduled tour times by visiting accenture.com/womenonwalls and women.rcsi.com.